Horse using nose to push another horses knees from under him?!

[CobSunshine]

Hey everyone

After I put my horse back on the field after a walk, a white Pony approached him and they started to playfully nip each other, then raise their front hoofs up to each other, following this my horse used his nose to push the pony's knees from under him so he dropped to his knees, then got up again, followed by face rubs! and again more nose to knee pushing.

Are they fighting or bonding?!

They seem to hang around a lot together, but the knee drop baffled me.

Some pics although they don't show everything you get the idea of size of small Pony (last pic is just before he did the knee push trick on the pony)

 

[Crazydancer]

Playing! My 14.2 WelshxArab was playing tonight with his mate, a little Welsh section B, the Welshie was rearing at waving his little hooves in the air, then they settled down to the important work of scratching each others necks, so sweet.

 

[Rose Folly]

Playing! Love the photos!

 

[Natch]

Playing - lovely that they are relaxed and in an environment which allows it.

In behavoural terms: taking away a horse's method of flight (legs) is a big thing, and i would imagine stallions fighting would do this. In horses I have seen doing it in play, they start off nipping heads/necks etc, chase around a bit, rest of body and so on, but if someone goes for the knees then its like the gauntlet has been thrown off and anything's fair game!

The most ridiculous play fight I saw was when both ponies had successfully got the other onto his knees (via teeth not nose!) and they kept going, both on their knees, and forgot to get up for quite some time

 

[RuthnMeg]

Looks like they are firm friends having a play. Its a horse thing, Fun to watch!!

 

[ladyt25]

Our old welsh pony used to play like this with our donkey, they were firm friends. The pony though used to get on his knees to play with the donkey though - I think so they were on the same level!